Dear editor,
We’ve all read stories or seen videos of the immigration influx at our southern border. To date over 7.6 million have crossed our border in the past three years. The thing is they are not immigrants in the traditional sense, as in the past most came from Mexico or Central America. Those crossing the border now come from over 170 countries. With almost a half million being unaccompanied minors, and over 300 on the FBI’s terrorist watch list.
It has been referred to as a “crisis.” Border towns have been overrun by the sheer number of people. Now, other cities like New York and Chicago face the same issues – where to put them. At a Jan. 11 meeting of the Ogle County Board Long Range and Strategic Planning Committee, Board Member Dan Janes, as quoted in the meeting minutes said, “That there could be discussions about using empty space in the (county) jail for things such as rental space for immigrants. The federal government is looking for places to house these individuals and we have to be open minded to sources of income.”
Seems some board members are looking for a payday courtesy of the federal government. Let me ask you residents of Ogle County – Are you ready to start housing illegal immigrants in your county?
Since these people are not charged with a crime how could you detain them, even in a jail, without violating their rights?
Ogle County citizens need to decide – do you follow your morals or follow the money?
The choice is yours.
-Ron Kern, Leaf River
